Plants are one of the most important elements on Earth and considered to be culturally sacred across the globe. While some cultures worship certain parts of plants, some consider plants to be deities themselves.
Floral aura is magnetic in its own sense and plants are often venerated since the beginning of time. It is interesting to see how most of the plants that are worshipped or considered auspicious often have accompanying medicinal properties.
When it comes to Indian rituals and beliefs, plants have been centrepieces since times immemorial. They are used for celebrating festivals, offering prayers and even worshipped as gods themselves.
Let’s take a look at some of the many important Indian plants and trees holding cultural significance:
Peepal
Venerated as one of the most sacred trees in India, it is considered to be holy in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Also known as the Bodhi tree, it is believed that Gautam Buddh attained enlightenment under the peepal tree.
Meanwhile in Hinduism, it represents the three most powerful deities- Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. In fact, different parts of the peepal tree represent these 3 gods. Brahma is represented by the roots, Vishnu by the trunk and Shiva by the tree’s leaves.
Peepal in Sanskrit literally translates to ‘wisdom’. There are several references to the peepal tree in all the Vedas and holy scriptures as well.
Bael
Bael (Bel) is believed to help wishes come to fruition.
This plant is associated with Lord Shiva and bael leaves are part of the offerings given to him. In fact, religious rituals are not complete till bael and fruits are offered to him. People in western India often worship bael for a good and long life.
Also known as Vembu or Valpipali, it is used as the chief ingredient in numerous herbal medicines that are effective in curing diseases.
Banyan
Banyan tree is India’s national tree and Krishna’s humble abode. It is symbolic of wisdom and longevity in Hinduism. Every temple and shrine certainly has an accompanying Banyan tree. It is used by travellers to seek shade from the scorching summer heat in various mythological tales as well as real-life scenarios due to its widespread canopy.
Gobardhan in Jaipur, Rajasthan houses the oldest surviving Banyan tree which is astonishingly over a thousand years old with a canopy covering 50 acres.
Furthermore, it is a symbol of purity in Jainism.
Coconut
When it comes to sacred plants in South India, coconut is at the top of the list. It is known as “mahua” in Hindi, which translates to “the great gift”. Coconut is used for various rituals and disturbing as prasad.
It is also an incredibly useful plant with its each part being of significance. Coconut oil is made from its flesh which is used as a cooking oil across India as well as several other countries in the world. Coconut leaves are also used to serve food in various southern states. Furthermore, coconut water (naariyal paani) is one of the healthiest and soothing drinks to consume during the unbearable summer heat.
Tulsi
Tulsi’s dual significance physically and spiritually makes it a revered part of India’s sacred culture. At least one tulsi plant can be found growing in almost every household following Hinduism. Apart from possessing medicinal properties, it also provides spiritual nourishment. Tulsi helps the body to fight ailments as well as avoid tragedies and disasters, spiritually speaking.
Written by Gagan Dhawan
